Welcome to the 16th William T. Pecora Memorial Symposium

As Steering Committee Chairman of the 16th William T. Pecora Memorial Symposium, I am delighted that you have joined us here in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for this exciting technical exchange. This week we will examine the full range of issues around the theme of “Global Priorities in Land Remote Sensing.” The Symposium continues the Pecora tradition of focusing on the applications of satellite and other land remote sensing data to study, monitor, and manage the Earth’s land surface. Concurrent sessions address Land Use/Land Cover, Wildlife/Biodiversity, Water/Wetlands, Forestry, Environment, Data Archiving, Policy Issues and more. Dr. James Merchant and his technical program team have organized an outstanding program that highlight technical accomplishments and policies of today and provide a forum for discussions of land remote sensing needs of tomorrow.

The Symposium keynote speaker is Dr. Gene Whitney, Senior Policy Analyst in the White House Of.ce of Science and Technology Policy, on assignment from the US Geological Survey. Other Plenary sessions include: Advancing Scientific and Practical Applications of Remotely Sensed Data; Data Availability, Access and Preservation; Advancing the Technology of Remote Sensing; and Securing a Stable Future for Satellite Land Remote Sensing. Hear Dr. Whitney's keynote address (36Mb MP3 format, 52 minutes duration).

The Symposium includes a Wednesday evening reception at the USGS Center for Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS). Don’t miss this lively social event and open house! NASA and USGS officials will present the annual Pecora award. The agenda includes tours, displays, refreshments, and fun.

The combination of technical sessions, policy discussions, posters, workshops, and exhibits at Pecora 16 make for a special opportunity for you to share experiences, successes and ideas. Enjoy the Symposium.

James A. Sturdevant
Steering Committee Chair
Pecora 16 Symposium